The three stood in since, Astrid trying to process the information, and Hiccup and Toothless waiting for her choice. She looked at the boy and dragon in front of her. For the first time in the last three minutes, she noticed Toothless's eyes were a soft hazel color, just like Hiccup's. "Alright. What are you two doing?" She asked, trying to act put out. Both boys looked at her with hopeful eyes. How could she stay angry when they were looking at her like that?
"We, we were going to practice with Tooth's new tail fin. Do you want to join us?" She saw the pleading looks on their faces. Well, Hiccup's face. She did not know how to describe the look on Toothless's face. Astrid raised her hands in mock defeat. "Alright, fine. I wouldn't tell anyone, even your father." Hiccup leapt up and down, cheering as Toothless pranced in delight around him. Astrid watched the two, amused.
They let the wind carry them, Astrid's arms wrapped loosely around Hiccup's waist. Toothless flew shackled to the stump, and landed. "It works better if it is turned at 180 degrees." he reported to his brother. They watched as Hiccup marked it on his chart. "Alright, one more practice, and we would be able to try free style."
"Yes!" Toothless cried, punching the air in front of him with his paw. She chuckled. "He liked hearing that."
"You have no idea." the brothers said together. Then they looked at each other, and burst out laughing. She chuckled, and shook her head. "Alright, Toothless, one more time." Hiccup told his brother as the once again rose into the air. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew the rope off the tree, sending boy, girl and dragon tumbling through the air. "Wows!" the three cried as one. When they landed on the ground, Toothless looked at his brother and friend. "Hic, are you two okay?" he asked gently nuzzling him.
He gave a low laugh, and nodded in the affirmative. "We are fine, Tooth." Astrid nodded, wondering how he knew what his brother had meant.
Astrid walked to Hiccup and Toothless's cove. Today, the three was going to try free flying. When she got to the cove, she saw something remarkable. Hiccup was sitting on one side of a huge flat stone. Toothless sat at the other end. Between them was a big chessboard. The black pieces was slightly bigger then the white. There was also another set with the white pieces bigger than the black.
Both boys looked up as she approached. "Hello, Astrid." Hiccup said cheerfully as Toothless nodded in greeting. Then, the boys turned back to their game. Toothless gently nudged a black chess piece into place. He grunted something. "Oh, come on! That is the second game you won!"
"How do you understand him?" He looked at her with a small smile. "I have always understood him." Ready to practice?"
"Yes."
"NO." All three turned, and cringed. There, looking right at them was the chief, Hiccup and Toothless's father. The boys winced again. "Hi, Dad." they said together.
He chuckled. "At least, not without me watching. You have grown well, Toothless."
Toothless nuzzled his dad in thanks. "Uh, yea, thanks, dad." Hiccup murmured, then he and Astrid leapt onto Toothless, with their dad watching fondly.